Ukiah: Eight homes destroyed in fire, 49 people sheltered

Some of the roughly 50 people evacuated from their homes early Monday morning after fire broke out at the Fircrest apartment complex on South State Street were being allowed back in shortly after 9 a.m., according to Ukiah Fire Chief John Bartlett.

He said apartment numbers 1 through 8 were uninhabitable because of either smoke or water damage, but the inhabitants of apartments numbered nine and up were allowed back into their homes.

"Apartments nine and 10 were the closest, but they weren't damaged," Bartlett said, explaining that firefighters were able to keep smoke and water out of those two and the other units.

Meanwhile, building C, called the little gymnasium at Ukiah High School, was quiet Monday morning while about 30 people slept inside on Red Cross cots after being evacuated and arriving there at about between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Vice Principal Chris Francis said he and the school's other vice principal, Christy Pedroncelli, had been at the high school since about 3:30 a.m. to help get them situated.

"I think they're pretty squared away right now," he said at about 8 a.m.

Between 50 and 60 people at first walked to Grace Hudson Elementary School until the Red Cross and Ukiah Unified School District bused them to the high school, according to Don Rowe, the Red Cross' disaster action coordinator for Mendocino County.

"Forty-two people checked in last night," he said, adding that another seven people who went to Ukiah Valley Medical Center with minor injuries came to the shelter after being released Monday morning.

Some people had gone to work, while 14 children and roughly a dozen adults slept in the gym as Red Cross workers waited to hear from fire officials on when people would be allowed back to their apartments to find what was needed in the way of supplies and ongoing shelter.

"We're hoping a lot of these people will be able to go home today," Rowe said. "Some have lost everything."

Volunteer Rick Paige said he knew of one family of seven who had been at a neighbor's home and were coming to the shelter after losing their home in the fire.

Bartlett said it was unknown when the people who lived in the eight apartments destroyed in the fire might be allowed access to what remained of their possessions.

One of the most pressing needs was socks and shoes for those who left their homes in the middle of the night, some of whom jumped out windows to avoid the flames. Volunteer Rick Paige said the Red Cross would likely provide money for clothing later in the day.

Rowe said Ukiah High School had provided a hot breakfast and would also provide lunch for the evacuees, but it was unknown Monday morning how long the temporary shelter might need to stay open.

The high school's counseling office offered to help coordinate homework needs for the school-aged children at the temporary shelter who couldn't go to their home schools because they were left without school clothes or supplies, according to Paige.

The principal of Nokomis Elementary School, John McCann, stopped by at about 8:50 a.m. with stuffed wolves -- the school's mascot -- for his two students who had landed at the shelter, but they had already left.

The availability of showers and food at the high school make it a good place for an emergency shelter, according to Rowe. He said the Red Cross had set up a shelter there during the floods of 2005 and 2006. People who use the shelter were given a care kit that included toiletries like tooth brushes and tooth paste, soap, a comb and towels, Paige said.

Anyone who wants to donate money, time or supplies is urged to call the Red Cross at 577-7600. Donations can also be dropped off at Goodwill, located at 1005 N. State St., Ukiah, or at the Dorcas Society through the Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at 151 Cherry St., Ukiah, with a notation that the donations are for the fire vidtims of the apartment complex, according to Plank. For drop-off hours, call Goodwill at 462-9660, or the Dorcas Society at 462-1388.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.